In Syria’s western city of Homs, a police officer was beaten to death by demonstrators, protesting against Bashar Assad’s regime, AFP reported.

Syrian riot police clashed with protesters in Damascus Friday, firing tear gas and beating people with batons, while other demonstrations erupted across the country in a marked expansion of a monthlong wave of unrest, witnesses said, according to sfgate.com.

Shouting, "Freedom! Freedom!" and "National unity, Muslims and Christians," a large crowd marched toward al-Abbasiyeen Square in northern Damascus, where police were blocking access late in the afternoon, witnesses said.

It was the largest day of demonstrations against the government of President Bashar Assad since the uprising here began in mid-March, according to Syrian activists reached via the Skype Internet service. Activists said up to 100,000 people joined the Damascus march, which began in Douma, outside the city, and picked up more participants as it passed through Harasta, Irbin, Zamalka and Jobar, en route to the capital.

It was impossible to independently confirm the number of protesters because foreign news media have been restricted from reporting in Syria.